GENERAL STABLE MANAGEMENT 53 



The stud groom should always visit a horse 

 that has been out, the last thing before turning in 

 himself, to give him another feed of corn, and see 

 tliat his ears are dry, and that he is generally 

 comfortable. 



I shall devote another chapter to hunters' ail- 

 ments ; but would impress on you here the import- 

 ance of either you or your stud groom examining a 

 hunter most carefully directly he comes in. Here, 

 if anywhere, ' a stitch in time saves nine,' and a 

 blow or slight strain, or bump on the back, which, 

 if left, will lay the horse by for some time, yields , 

 quickly to immediate treatment. 



On the day following I like my groom to hand- 

 rub the horses' legs well twice during the day. 

 Day after ^veu if not filled it braces them up and 

 buntuig gives the tendons and ligaments tone. 

 Also, when doing so, he feels any slight thing which 

 may be amiss, such as the thickening of the tendon, 

 or the presence of a thorn. 



There is another thing, which I should perhaps 

 have mentioned before, of considerable importance 

 saddiin? ^^^ t^® s^^^ groom to see to himself, and 

 ai., b.i.iiing ^Y^^^ ig^ the saddling and bridling of the 

 hunter going out. Some men are careless about 

 this, and leave it to the helper who looks after the 

 horse, the result being a sore back or a horse upset 

 through wrong bitting. With a lady's horse care in 



